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Earnings news and the firm size effect

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  • BYUNG T. RO

Abstract

. Prior studies on the firm size effect either do not adequately control for earnings or ignore the potential implication of earnings news for the firm size effect. Thus, they implicitly assume that the firm size effect is identical across all firms irrespective of earnings news. This study provides additional empirical evidence on the firm size effect by taking earnings news into account. The results indicate that the firm size effect persists even when earnings news, measured by the sign and magnitude of unexpected earnings, is controlled. The firm size effect, however, is pronounced only for firms with “good†earnings news, but not for firms with “bad†earnings news. Possible implications of these findings are explored. Résumé. Les études qui ont été réalisées jusqu'à maintenant sur l'incidence de la taille de l'entreprise ne contrôlent pas adéquatement la variable bénéfices ou ignorent les conséquences potentielles de l'information relative aux bénéfices sur l'incidence de la taille de l'entreprise. Elles supposent donc implicitement que l'incidence de la taille de l'entreprise est la même pour toutes les entreprises, peu importe l'information relative aux bénéfices. La présente étude ajoute aux preuves empiriques concernant l'incidence de la taille de l'entreprise, en tenant compte de l'inforrmation relative aux bénéfices. Les résultats de cette étude révèlent que l'incidence de la taille de l'entreprise persiste, même lorsque l'information relative aux bénéfices, mesurée en fonction de l'indication de bénéfices imprévus et de leur ampleur, est contrôlée. L'incidence de la taille de l'entreprise est toutefois marquée seulement dans le cas des entreprises pour lesquelles l'information relative aux bénéfices est « positive », et non dans le cas des entreprises pour lesquelles l'information relative aux bénéfices est « négative ». L'auteur explore les conséquences possibles des résultats de l'étude.

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  • Byung T. Ro, 1989. "Earnings news and the firm size effect," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 6(1), pages 177-195, September.
    • Handle: RePEc:wly:coacre:v:6:y:1989:i:1:p:177-195
    DOI: 10.1111/j.1911-3846.1989.tb00752.x
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    1. Terry Shevlin & D. Shores, 1993. "Firm Size, Security Returns, and Unexpected Earnings: The Anomalous Signed†Size Effect," Contemporary Accounting Research, John Wiley & Sons, vol. 10(1), pages 1-30, September.

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